Moving to Universal Credit as a lone parent - advice on how it works

[lokomoko]

Hello! In the next few days I have to make the switch to Universal Credit. I am a lone parent and have my child 100% of the time.

I am self employed and currently work 16hrs a week and make the minimum wage threshold for that.

Once I move to Universal credit will they make me take more hours? How many do they need you to do as a minimum? My child is 11 and will be going to secondary in Sept.

If anyone has advice on whether you have to reach a certain limit of income or take more hours I would welcome it. What is the minimum monthly income they expect on UC before they make you look for extra work?

So far I am confused as I saw an article suggesting it needed to be 18 hours a week but elsewhere it said 30 hours a week! Any advice welcome.

Also how does it work in summer hols etc - are they ok if your income goes down a bit due to additional childcare?

I'm on universal credit but I'm not self employed so it is a little different for me. I'm employed and have to earn a certain amount each month to not have extra work search requirements ( I think it is based on 18 hours at minimum wage). I work full time but term time only in a school and my taje home pay is enough to not have any extra euro search requirements

If you are self employed I believe you also need to earn a certain amount each month for them to see you as gainfully self employed and to have no work search requirements. This amount is known as the minimum income floor, I'm not sure what the exact amount you would be expected to make is though. I think if you are switching from tax credits this doesn't apply for 12 months though and it is only after that if you aren't making enough they would want you to look for other work. There are some very helpful universal credit Facebook help groups with lots of information that would be worth looking at.

@ADVICENEEDED987 thank you so much, very helpful. Can I ask how old your child is, and whether they try to make you work more than 18 hours (if you make the equivalent of 18hrs minimum wage?). I was reading about some requirement to work 30 hrs once your kid is a certain age and wondering if they enforce that or you have to ensure your wages match 30hrs equivalent at NMW? or they are more flexible on single parents?

I will take a look at the groups you recommend, thank you!

I am in Uc but a carer to my Ds so no requirements to look for extra work.

i prefer it as no overpayment I … however I believe Uc want monthly accounts for Se

My children are 14, 11 and 8. If you are employed you have to earn over the AET (administrative earning threshold) which is £892 a month for a single person, £1437 for a couple. As long as I earn at least £892 each month (regardless of how many hours I actually worked) I don't have any appointments or work search requirements. I don't know quite how it works for self employed though with the minimum income floor.

A good Facebook group to look at is 'universal credit survival', they have always been really helpful when I've had questions. There are also some groups purely for those who are self employed and on universal credit which should be able to help, one is 'universal credit and the self-employed'.

On the whole I prefer universal credit to tax credits (I had to move over when I separated from my ex) as it means I don't have any overpayment but it is quite confusing to beginwith!

I hope the switchover for you all goes smoothly

@ADVICENEEDED987 thank you - good advice. Am wondering if because you have a child age 8 if it means there's no 30hrs requirement or not until they hit secondary age? I guess I will find out in the next few days either way. It's all a bit baffling. Have joined some groups on FB like you suggested - much appreciated!